{"id":1848,"date":"2008-06-09T23:23:17","date_gmt":"2008-06-09T22:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/?p=1848"},"modified":"2008-06-09T23:23:17","modified_gmt":"2008-06-09T22:23:17","slug":"dvd-pick-the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/2008\/06\/09\/dvd-pick-the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly\/","title":{"rendered":"DVD Pick: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Diving Bell and the Butterfly<\/strong><\/a> was one of the major cinematic achievements of the past year – a film of outstanding technique and extraordinary emotional depth.<\/p>\n

It is adapted from the memoir of Jean-Dominique Bauby<\/a>, the editor of French Elle<\/a> magazine who’s privileged life came to a halt after a devastating stroke\u00a0 left him with Locked-in Syndrome<\/a> – a condition which meant he could only move his left eye.<\/p>\n

The film documents his struggle in hospital as he gradually learns how to communicate by blinking to speech therapists as they recite the most used letters of the alphabet.<\/p>\n

Director Julian Schnabel<\/a> brought a sense of beauty and wonder to a difficult story and Ronald Harwood’s script found a clever way of dealing with the seemingly unfilmable aspects of the original book.<\/p>\n

The way in which things are shot from the central character\u2019s point of view is ingenious and also highly effective in conveying his condition.<\/p>\n

Performances across the board are first rate, with Mathieu Amalric<\/a> outstanding in the lead role and excellent support too from Emmanuelle Seigner<\/a>, Marie-Jos\u00e9e Croze<\/a> and <\/span>Max Von Sydow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In a year of dark films, this was notable in that it found hope, humour and humanity amidst the terrible condition of its main character.<\/p>\n

It didn’t really get the audience it deserved at cinemas, so it is essential viewing now if you missed it first time around.<\/p>\n

Pathe have done a fine job on the DVD release which contains the following extras:<\/p>\n